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Richmond Dining-Out scene


burt

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The name PETER CHANG may prick up your ears and whet your appetite. The elusive gentleman is spoken of in reverent tones amongst culinary literati. Word is out that he has leased space in Short Pump and will bring his Asian delights to Metro Richmond sometime in 2012.

PS: Mr. Chang, whose nearest restaurant to Richmond is in Charlottesville, has absolutely no connection with the P.F. CHANG's chain.

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Ah, CHEZ FOUSHEE. What a neat little place!

Dana Craig gives it three stars in her review appearing in today's RTD:

Shortly after major renovations revived the nearby Jefferson Hotel and affiliated it with the Sheraton chain in 1986, a young interior designer named Bob Claude extensively altered the Mediterranean style building at the northeast corner of Grace and Foushee Streets. It had been a paint store until Mr. Claude converted the building into a chic restaurant.

Subsequently, it was sold to its present owners and will celebrate its 23rd birthday this year.

A man named Foushee, for those who wonder, was Richmond's first mayor way back in the 18th century.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/food-dining/2012/jan/05/tdweek03-chez-foushee-dinner-a-welcome-addition-ar-1587766/

CHEZ FOUSHEE

Dana's Rating: 3 Stars

203 North Foushee Street (with another entrance into the bar area from Grace Street.)

804/648-3225

http://www.chezfoushee.com

Twitter: @chezfoushee

Noise level: High

Tab for two: $82.

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The name PETER CHANG may prick up your ears and whet your appetite. The elusive gentleman is spoken of in reverent tones amongst culinary literati. Word is out that he has leased space in Short Pump and will bring his Asian delights to Metro Richmond sometime in 2012.

PS: Mr. Chang, whose nearest restaurant to Richmond is in Charlottesville, has absolutely no connection with the P.F. CHANG's chain.

I should have checked with Karri Peifer before posting the teaser about Peter Chang. She has the full story in a recent "Dish" column in Richmond dot com.

Chang's first Richmond location will be in the former Rainbow Buffet at Short Pump Village opening late February. Future plans may include a mobile operation (food cart) and a full restaurant possibly in The Fan, The Slip or Bottom.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...ove-ar-1584363/

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PORTICO, a new casually elegant Italian restaurant by the folks of Sensi, is now open on River Road just beyond the Henrico/Goochland line.

From the road, it appears cozy and small, although it boasts a heated patio with a roaring fire for less frigid seasons.

Jon and Leah Nelson dined there recently and report favorably on Richmond dot com, awarding it 3 stars.

Word is that PORTICO is filling the house every night (except Sundays when its closed) from 5PM 'til 9PM. Reservations are strongly recommended.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...iew-ar-1590172/

PORTICO

The Nelsons rate it a 3 star operation.

12507 River Road (formerly known as The Edible Garden.)

804/784-4800

A webpage is not yet available.

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Tried to go to Sedona Taphouse on Saturday night, only to realize that it really is just a bar that serves a little bit of food. We circled around circling like vultures to try to snag one of the 5 tables (the bar was packed) and gave up after about 10 minutes. The limited menu online should have tipped me off that this isn't really a full-service restaurant.

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Tried to go to Sedona Taphouse on Saturday night, only to realize that it really is just a bar that serves a little bit of food. We circled around circling like vultures to try to snag one of the 5 tables (the bar was packed) and gave up after about 10 minutes. The limited menu online should have tipped me off that this isn't really a full-service restaurant.

That's a shame..... I was thinking maybe I could go shopping a little bit at Tar-jay, catch a bite here, then see a movie at Regal, then dessert @ Sweet Frog..... but then again, it is a TAPHOUSE..... I was thinking it was going to be like any other bar.... liquor plus some burgers or steaks or something....but this is rather disappointing to me. Oh, well, I still wish them much success.

www.sedonataphouse.com

Edited by RVA-Is-The-Best
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PORTICO, a new casually elegant Italian restaurant by the folks of Sensi, is now open on River Road just beyond the Henrico/Goochland line.

From the road, it appears cozy and small, although it boasts a heated patio with a roaring fire for less frigid seasons.

Jon and Leah Nelson dined there recently and report favorably on Richmond dot com, awarding it 3 stars.

Word is that PORTICO is filling the house every night (except Sundays when its closed) from 5PM 'til 9PM. Reservations are strongly recommended.

From Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...iew-ar-1590172/

PORTICO

The Nelsons rate it a 3 star operation.

12507 River Road (formerly known as The Edible Garden.)

804/784-4800

A webpage is not yet available.

Here's another take on PORTICO by Style Weekly's Tess Autrey Bosher:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1653000

Note to Joey (our contributor known as Downtowner:) Your pal Justin Verlander was at PORTICO when this review was written. :)

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SAMPLE opens Friday in the former Sprout location at #1 N. Morris Street.

It's a new kind of dining experience (the "A" in its name is really @ but if you spell it that way it comes up highlighted which will lead you to their e-mail address.)

Deveron Timberlake provides the details in her Style Weekly column:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1653002

SAMPLE

1 N. Morris Street in The Lower Fan

http://www.Samplerichmond.com

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Tried to go to Sedona Taphouse on Saturday night, only to realize that it really is just a bar that serves a little bit of food. We circled around circling like vultures to try to snag one of the 5 tables (the bar was packed) and gave up after about 10 minutes. The limited menu online should have tipped me off that this isn't really a full-service restaurant.

It IS a full service restaurant. They serve small-plate fare similar to tappas restaurants. There are WAY more than 5 tables in that place. The fact that it was packed MUST mean that it's crappy, right? :rolleyes: And I'm not sure how many people would really think they could get a seat in a popular new place on a Saturday night in 10 minutes.

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I sure didn't say that it's crappy, I wish I could have gotten some food to try. My only point is that at a full-service restaurant, if there are no tables free, a maitre d' or someone equivalent takes your name and will let you know when there is a table available. At Sedona Taphouse, your only option was literally to stand in the middle of the floor like a vulture and wait for somebody to get up. In fact, we were standing awkwardly for several minutes next to the table of a party that looked like they were getting ready to finish, only to have them tell us "we've already promised our table to the gentleman over there." I was plenty willing to wait much more than 10 minutes to try this place, but there was literally no way to guarantee that you would ever get a table no matter how long you waited.

That's acceptable for a Starbucks or a bar, but not a full-service restaurant.

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Here's another take on PORTICO by Style Weekly's Tess Autrey Bosher:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1653000

Note to Joey (our contributor known as Downtowner:) Your pal Justin Verlander was at PORTICO when this review was written. :)

The reporting on PORTICO continues with Dana Craig's appraisal in The Richmond Times Dispatch.

So far, three reviwews have been posted on these pages, and while all have extolled the amenities and attractiveness of the restaurant, none has praised the food beyond the three-star level.

Dana points out the annoyance of the sound level in the room and hints the owner is looking into rectifying the situation. (Sidebar: PASTURE at 5th and Grace Streets has a similar problem.)

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...nts-ar-1604626/

PORTICO

Dana's rating: 3 Stars

12506 River Road (in Eastern Goochland County)

804/784-4800 (Reservations strongly recommended)

No web page

Noise Level: High

Tab for two: $68

The photo heading Dana's review is borrowed from Richmond dot com (including a repeat of it in the Slideshow.) But as usual, it is excellent and includes a tuneful musical accompaniment.

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Karri Peifer has just released her list of restaurants to look forward to and also new ones that are now open.

My list of anticipated restaurants would be headed by 525 AT THE BERRY BURK expected to come on line in April at the corner of 6th and Grace Streets.

From today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2012/jan/11/5/restaurant-watch-ar-1604321/

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There's a new bar/restaurant and dance club in Shockoe Slip called SYNERGY that is now open.

I couldn't find the club's address anywhere in the web site, but called and found out that it is in a space at 11 South 12th Street. I believe this has been the site of previous clubs on lower levels of the building between East Main and East Cary Streets.

The website sure looks neat. Take a look:

http://clubsynergyva.com/

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Tomorrow night, Friday, January 13th at 6:30PM, ARCADIA RESTAURANT in Shockoe Bottom will have its gala Grand Opening.

I dined there during its try-out days in late December and found it delightful. Indeed, there were kinks to be worked out, but nothing major. I had Blue Point oysters on the shell, a green salad and a lamb shank entree with a glass of wine and dessert. The bill was $51 including tax and tip. Well worth it!

There's a small bar and a number of white linen topped tables and booths on the ground floor and a party room above (with another bar). The restaurant was full by 7:30PM.

Today I read on their facebook page that Chef Tlusty celebrated his birthday on January 11th (so did I :) .) He spent his in Washington checking out a restaurant. I celebrated my 84th with a friend at a favorite Turkish restaurant, BODRUM, here in New York.

ARCADIA has valet parking ($5) and when leaving I ran into Hollister Lindley, a restaurant reviewer for Richmond Magazine, arriving with friend for dinner.

ARCADIA

1700 East Main Street (in the former Guttenburg and before that, The main Street Grill.)

804/417-4005

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The downtown restaurant numbers game has begun. 525 at The Berry Burk is prepping for an April opening.

Meanwhile MANSION FIVE 26 is showing off its handsome self in Jackson Ward.

Jon and Leah Nelson enjoyed a three-star evening at the elegant dining room at the front of the house and its Speakeasy club/bar toward the rear.

The menu, according to the Nelsons, leans to tasty comfort food offerings with a touch of Creole. The wine list is on the pricey side.

From today's Richmond dot com:

http://www2.richmond...iew-ar-1606399/

MANSION FIVE 26

The Nelsons' rating: 3 Stars

526 North 2nd Street Street (next door and connected to the newly renovated Hippodrome Theatre)

804/308-2913

http://www.hippodromerichmond.com/

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The name PETER CHANG may prick up your ears and whet your appetite. The elusive gentleman is spoken of in reverent tones amongst culinary literati. Word is out that he has leased space in Short Pump and will bring his Asian delights to Metro Richmond sometime in 2012.

PS: Mr. Chang, whose nearest restaurant to Richmond is in Charlottesville, has absolutely no connection with the P.F. CHANG's chain.

Here is a two-year-old New Yorker profile on the enigmatic Peter Chang which I found at Richmond Biz Sense.

I bet a quarter Richmond is going to rise a notch or two on the Asian culinary front when this Szechuanese specialist opens up shop soon at Short Pump Village.

There's talk of further expansion in Richmond -- perhaps in The Fan, Shockoe or downtown (I wish it would be in the Miller & Rhoads building :) .)

It's said that the Changs live midway between Richmond and Charlottesville (where one of his restaurants already exists.)

http://www.newyorker...n#ixzz1jMCVqaRj

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Has anyone heard of or seen any kind of restaurant activity in the U of R downtown building at 7th and Broad Streets?

A notice in today's RTD Building Permits column says that a company named Broad Seven LLC is doing a tenant fitup for an eat-in restaurant at 626 East Broad Street. The cost of the project is only $75,000, so it's not likely to be more than a modest operation.

Here's a photo of the building from Google:

http://downtown.rich...t/location.html

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Richmond dot com's Karri Peifer reveals that BYRAM's on West Broad Street, which is in the shadow of the CBS/Channel 6 thousand foot tower, has closed for a few weeks to rebrand itself. When it re-emerges in February it is likely to be a seafood restaurant with (yep) "tower" in its name.

Back in the smooth 50's BYRAM's was known as The Paddock. The food wasn't special, but couples could dance cheek to cheek to romantic music by a real, live musical quartet playing danceable tunes. In fact, just about a block west, another place called TONY'S SUPPER CLUB offered 1950's style dancing along with a floor show.

In the name of nostalgia, maybe BYRAM's should rebrand itself as The Paddock. :)

http://www2.richmond...ded-ar-1617586/

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Richmond dot com reports that PASTURE, the new and popular restaurant on East Grace between 4th and 5th Streets, will begin serving lunch this week.

PASTURE is run and owned by Ry Marchand (of SIX BURNER fame) and Jason Alley (owner and operator of COMFORT.)

Friends and I had dinner there in December one evening after seeing THE NUTCRACKER at nearby Richmond CenterStage. The place, which had been open for a couple of weeks, was packed with a waiting list at 9:30PM on a Thursday. We had drinks and shared a number of small plates which were delicious.

But LOUD!!! That place with high ceilings and lots of wood in its decor reverberates with deafening sound. It's my theory that restaurant loudness gnaws at diners' minds and subliminally urges them not to linger -- thus, turning over tables for new arrivals. :thumbsup:

http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/top-features/2012/jan/17/pasture-restaurant-now-open-lunch-ar-1617818/

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It looks as if BUDDY'S, a popular neighborhood bar with patio at Stuart Avenue and Robinson Street in The Fan is going to be evicted by the end of this year.

From Style Weekly on Jan. 14th:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1654985

BUDDY'S will remain open -- at least for another three years.

Style Weekly has updated its story (see above) and The RTD confirms it.

http://www2.timesdis...ion-ar-1622104/

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